Theater having provided with screen having curvature, and chair control system for same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a theater having provided with a screen having curvature, and a chair control system for same and, more specifically, to a theater comprising: a screen having predetermined curvature in the long axial direction or the short axial direction; and theater chairs provided so as to face the center of the screen, wherein the screen is tilted. Therefore, by providing the angles of theater chairs to vary with respect to the location in a theater having provided with a screen that has curvature in the horizontal axis as well as the vertical axis, the present invention enables securing of an optimal field of vision for audience.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a theater on which a screen havingcurvature has been installed and a system for controlling a theater seatand, more particularly, to a theater including a screen having specificcurvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction and a theaterseat installed to face the center of the screen, wherein the screen hasa tilt.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a movie theater has a structure in which a rectangle screenis provided in a building of a rectangular parallelepiped having thevertical surface of a wall, and is fabricated to allow audiences towatch visual media within a specific space.

However, such a rectangle screen has structural problems in that athree-dimensional effect is not present and a sense of immersion is notsufficient because visual media is projected on a plane screen whenaudiences watch the visual media. Accordingly, various methods arerecently suggested in order to solve such problems.

A method for implementing the shape of a screen in a curved surface formis emerging as one of methods for solving the problems.

In this case, the curved surface screen has a problem in that adifference in a provided angle of view is great depending on thelocation of an audience seat because the curved surface screen hascurvature, unlike a plane screen. Accordingly, audiences prefer onlyseats in a specific area and avoid other areas, making the utilizationof seats inefficient.

Accordingly, if a screen having curvature which moves left and right andtop and bottom and has curvature in a vertical axis in addition to ahorizontal axis is developed, there will be a problem in that it isfurther difficult to secure a viewing angle according to the location ofeach seat.

The present invention has been invented based on such a technologicalbackground and also has been invented to satisfy the aforementionedtechnological needs and to provide additional technological elementsthat may not be easily invented by those skilled in the art to which thepresent invention pertains.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

The present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problemsoccurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is toprovide an optimum field of vision by differently installing each seatat a different angle so that an audience can normally watch a screen atthe location of each seat in a theater on which the screen havingcurvature in a vertical axis in addition to a horizontal axis has beeninstalled.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to enable an audienceto have an optimum viewing angle and various effects so that a highsense of immersion is transferred to the audience by controlling amovement of a seat depending on a shape of a screen.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects, according to the present invention, atheater on which a screen having curvature has been installed mayinclude a screen having specific curvature in a long-axis direction orshort-axis direction and a theater seat installed to face the center ofthe screen, wherein the screen may have a tilt. In this case, thetheater seat may include a sheet, a support unit supporting the bottomof the sheet, and a back of the seat joined to the sheet or the supportunit and upward extended and formed.

Furthermore, an angle of the sheet of the theater seat may bedifferently installed depending on a location, an angle of the back ofthe seat of the theater seat may be differently installed depending on alocation or angles of the sheet and back of the seat of the theater seatmay be differently installed depending on locations.

Furthermore, the theater seats may be divided into groups depending onlocations. Angles of the sheet and back of the seat of the theater seatmay be differently installed depending on the location for each group.

According to the present invention, a system for controlling a theaterseat in a theater on which a screen having specific curvature in along-axis direction or short-axis direction has been installed includesa theater seat receiving a seat driving command and moving in responseto the seat driving command and a theater server sending the seatdriving command to the theater seat.

In this case, the theater seat may include a sheet, a support unitsupporting the bottom of the sheet, a back of the seat joined to thesheet or the support unit and upward extended and formed, and a seatcontrol unit receiving the seat driving command from the theater serverand controlling a movement of the sheet, the support unit and the backof the seat.

Furthermore, the theater server may control an angle of the sheet, maycontrol an angle of the back of the seat or may send a different seatdriving command to each theater seat.

Furthermore, the theater server may divide the theater seats into groupsdepending on their locations and send a different seat driving commandto each group.

Meanwhile, the system may further include a support receiving a supportdriving command and changing a shape or tilt of the screen in responseto the support driving command, wherein the theater server may send thesupport driving command to the support.

In this case, the theater server may previously set a seat drivingcommand for each theater seat according to a support driving command forthe support and simultaneously send the support driving command and theseat driving command to the support and the theater seat.

Furthermore, the theater server may send a previously set seat drivingcommand corresponding to the playback time of content, a frame or ascene.

Advantageous Effects

In accordance with the present invention, an optimum field of vision canbe provided by differently installing each seat at a different angle sothat an audience can normally watch a screen at the location of eachseat in a theater on which the screen having curvature in a verticalaxis in addition to a horizontal axis has been installed.

Furthermore, the present invention enable an audience to have an optimumviewing angle and various effects so that a high sense of immersion istransferred to the audience by controlling a movement of a seataccording to the running time of a movie.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which thesheets of theater seats have been disposed at different angles in orderto provide an optimum field of vision to audiences at the location ofthe seats depending on curvature of a screen in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which thesheets of theater seats have been disposed at different angles in orderto provide an optimum field of vision to audiences at the location ofthe seats depending on curvature of a screen in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which thesheets of theater seats have been disposed at different angles in orderto provide an optimum field of vision to audiences at the location ofthe seats depending on curvature of a screen in accordance with yetanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which thebacks of theater seats have been disposed at different angles in orderto provide an optimum field of vision to audiences at the location ofthe seats depending on curvature of a screen in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the configuration of a theater seataccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating the configuration of a system forcontrolling a theater seat according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating a configuration in which a theaterseat includes a seat control unit according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which theangle of the sheet of a theater seat is controlled in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a reference diagram for illustrating the state in which theangle of the back of a seat in a theater seat is controlled inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

The details of the objects and technological configurations of thepresent invention and acting effects thereof will be more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description based on theaccompanying drawings. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present inventionare described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments disclosed in this specification should not be interpreted aslimiting or used to limit the range of right of the present invention.It is evident to those skilled in the art that a description includingthe embodiments of this specification has various applications.Accordingly, unless otherwise defined by the claims, some embodimentsdescribed are illustrative for better understanding, and the range ofright of the present invention is not intended to be restricted by theembodiments.

Function blocks illustrated in the drawings and described hereunder areonly examples of possible implementations. In other implementations,different functional blocks may be used without departing from thespirit and scope of the detailed description. Furthermore, one or morefunctional blocks of the present invention are illustrated as separateblocks, but one or more of the functional blocks of the presentinvention may be a combination of various hardware and software elementsfor executing the same function.

Furthermore, it should be understood that an expression that someelements are included is an expression of an open type and theexpression simply denotes that the corresponding elements are present,but does not exclude additional elements.

Furthermore, when it is said that one element is connected or coupled tothe other element, it should be understood that one element may bedirectly connected or coupled to the other element, but a third elementmay exist between the two elements.

Furthermore, expressions, such as “the first” and “the second”, areexpressions used to only distinguish a plurality of elements from oneanother, and do not limit the sequence of the elements or othercharacteristics.

FIGS. 1 to 4 are diagrams for illustrating the state in which the sheets110 of theater seats 100 and the backs 130 of the seats have beendisposed at different angles in order to provide an optimum field ofvision to audiences at the location of the seats depending on curvatureof a screen in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

A theater according to an embodiment of the present invention includes ascreen 10 having specific curvature in a long-axis direction orshort-axis direction and the theater seat 100 installed to face thecenter of the screen. The screen has a tilt. In this case, as shown inFIG. 5, the theater seat 100 may include the sheet 110, a support unit120 supporting the bottom of the sheet 110, and the back 130 of the seatjoined to the sheet 110 or the support unit 120 and upward extended andformed.

In this case, the tilt refers to an angle formed by a straight line thatconnects the first long-axis member and second long-axis member of aframe to be described later at the shortest distance and the verticalstand of a support to be described later.

The frame refers to a structure joined to the support in order tomaintain the shape of the screen 10 having curvature. The frame includesa long-axis member or a short-axis member having curvature, andfunctions to closely attach the screen to the members, eventuallyimplementing the screen 10 having curvature. In this case, the long-axismember is a member longer than the short-axis member. In view of thecharacteristics of a screen installed on a theater, it is preferred thatthe long-axis member is disposed in a horizontal-axis direction and theshort-axis member is disposed in a vertical-axis direction. In thiscase, the long-axis member of the frame includes the first long-axismember and the second long-axis member on which the top and bottom ofthe screen are respectively mounted.

Furthermore, the support refers to a structure, basically including avertical stand having a framework fixed to the ground and a horizontalstand joined to the vertical stand and joined to the frame or the screen10 having curvature. The vertical stand and the horizontal stand areframework materials of a structure installed to support the screen 10having curvature and the frame of the screen having curvature. It ispreferred that the vertical stand and the horizontal stand arefabricated using a solid material. In this case, the connection portionof the support and the frame may be fixed using a connection joint or itis preferred that the support and the frame are joined together usingwelding.

In this case, there is an advantage in that a sense of immersion isenhanced because the upper part of a screen becomes closer to the visualfield of an audience as the tilt increases.

Accordingly, the theater seat 100 of the present invention is installedso that the body or eyes of an audience face the center of the screenwhen the audience is seated in the theater seat 100. Although anaudience is seated in the theater seat 100 at any location, the audiencecan watch the screen 10 having curvature in the state in which astabilized field of vision has been secured. In this case, the angle anddirection of each theater seat 100 may be different, or the theatersseats 100 may be classified into groups depending on their locations andmay have different angles and directions for each group.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, if spaces where the support units 120of the theater seats 100 disposed in the same column will be installedare to be connected, the spaces may be disposed in a round form to drawan arc of a specific form and the angles of the sheets may be disposedso that they face the center of the screen. As shown in FIG. 2, ifspaces where the support units 120 of the theater seats disposed on thesurfaces of left and right walls on the basis of stairs for going up anddown for the seats of the theater will be installed are to be connected,the spaces may be disposed to draw a diagonal line. As shown in FIG. 3,the sheets of the theater seats 100 disposed on the surfaces of left andright walls on the basis of stairs for going up and down for the seatsof the theater may be disposed at different angles by taking intoconsideration the size of the theater and curvature or tilt of thescreen 10. In this case, the sheets of all of the seats installed on thesurface of the wall may be installed at almost the same angle. However,the angles of the sheets 110 of the theater seats 100 disposed close tothe surfaces of the left and right walls may be twisted toward thecenter of the screen 10, and the angles of the sheets 110 of the theaterseats 100 disposed on the center side of the screen 10 may be installedin a direction almost perpendicular to the surface of a wall on whichthe screen 10 has been installed.

The shape of the screen 10 according to the present invention is notessentially limited to a plane. For example, the screen 10 may havecurvature of a specific size in a long-axis direction or short-axisdirection. Alternatively, the screen 10 may have curvature of a specificsize both in the long-axis and short-axis directions and may beimplemented as a so-called ovalness. In the present invention, a sidethat belongs to the sides of the screen 10 and that has a relativelylonger length is defined as a long axis and a side that belongs to thesides of the screen 10 and that has a relatively shorter length isdefined as a short axis. Preferably, the horizontal side of the screen10 is defined as a long axis, and the vertical side of the screen 10 isdefined as a short axis.

As may be seen from FIGS. 1 to 4, the screen 10 according to the presentinvention may be implemented in an ovalness concaved toward the theaterseats 100. If the screen 10 is implemented so that curvature isgenerated in the long axis or short axis of the screen 10 as describedabove, there is an advantage in that a higher sense of immersion and athree-dimensional effect can be provided to audiences.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the configuration of the theaterseat 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 5, the theater seat 100 may include the sheet 110, the supportunit 120 supporting the bottom of the sheet 110, and the back 130 of theseat which is joined to the sheet 110 or the support unit 120 and upwardextended and formed.

The theater seat 100 is described in detail below. The sheet 110 is aportion that comes into contact with a hip portion when an audience isseated. The support unit 120 is formed from the ground and supports thebottom of the sheet 110. The back 130 of the seat is joined to the sheet110 or the support unit 120 and upward extended and formed, and supportsthe back or head portion of an audience. Furthermore, the theater seat100 may further include an armrest joined to any one of the sheet 110and the back 130 of the seat. When the theater seat 100 is moved bycontrol of a theater server 200, the armrest supports the body of anaudience so that the audience can watch a movie safely.

As described above, the screen 10 has curvature in the short-axisdirection in addition to the long-axis direction. Accordingly, when anaudience watches the screen 10, a viewing angle secured depending on thelocation of each theater seat 100 is different depending on the locationof the left and right direction in which the theater seat 100 has beendisposed, and a viewing angle may also be different depending on thelocation of the up and down direction in which the theater seat 100 hasbeen disposed. For this reason, according to the present invention, asafer field of vision can be provided to an audience because the theaterseat 100 is disposed at a different angle depending on its installationlocation.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the angle of the sheet 110 ofthe theater seat 100 may be different depending on the location of thesheet. The angle of the sheet 110 means an angle (refer to FIG. 8)generated by rotating the sheet 100 clockwise or counterclockwise basedon the direction of the surface of a wall on which the screen 10 hasbeen installed.

The screen 10 of the present invention has curvature in the long-axisdirection. Accordingly, although the theater seats 100 are located atthe same height, audiences may have different viewing angles whenwatching the screen 10 depending on the left, right or central locationof the screen 10. Accordingly, although the theater seats 100 arelocated at the same height as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sheets 110 aredisposed at different angles toward the center of the screen 10, soaudiences can watch a movie played back on the screen 10 havingcurvature more comfortably. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the back130 of the theater seat 100 may be disposed at a different angledepending on its location. The angle of the back 130 of the seat meansan angle (refer to FIG. 9) formed by the back 130 of the seat and thesheet 110.

Furthermore, the screen 10 of the present invention has curvature in theshort-axis direction. Accordingly, although audiences are located in thesame direction based on the screen 10, the audiences may have differentviewing angles when watching the screen 10 depending on their heights.Accordingly, although audiences are seated in the theater seats 100located at different heights as shown in FIG. 4, the backs 130 of thetheater seats 100 are disposed at different angles so that the bodiesand heads of the audiences face the center of the screen 10.Accordingly, the audiences can watch a movie played back on the screen10 having curvature more comfortably.

More specifically, the back 130 of the seat and the sheet 110 may bedisposed at different angles depending on the location of the theaterseat 100.

The screen 10 of the present invention may have curvature in thelong-axis direction and the short-axis direction. It is preferred thatboth the sheet 110 and the back 130 of the seat are disposed atdifferent angles depending on the location of each theater seat 100.Accordingly, it is preferred that the angle of the sheet 110 and theangle of the back 130 of the seat are adjusted toward the center of thescreen 10 at the location of each theater seat 100 by taking intoconsideration the size of a theater and curvature of the screen 10. Inthis case, there is an advantage in that an audience can be providedwith a safe field of vision although he or she is location at any place.Accordingly, a conventional problem in that a viewing angle is differentdepending on an audience seat can be solved.

Furthermore, the theater seats 100 may be classified into groupsdepending on their locations. The sheets 110 and backs 130 of thetheater seats 100 may be disposed at different angles according to thegroup. In this case, it is preferred that theater seats 100 at placesthat require a similar angle of the sheet 110 and a similar angle of theback 130 of the seat are classified as one group by taking intoconsideration the size of a theater and curvature of the screen 10. Inthis case, there is an advantage in that the angles of the sheet 110 andback 130 of a theater seat 100 can be previously set before the theaterseat 100 is installed on a theater and the theater seat 100 can befabricated and supplied.

As described above, FIGS. 1 to 5 are diagrams for illustrating theconfigurations in which the sheets 110 or backs 130 of the theater seats100 are disposed at different angles in order to provide an optimumfield of vision to audiences depending on the locations of the theaterseats 100 within a theater. FIGS. 6 to 9 are diagrams for illustratingconfigurations in which the theater server 200 controls a movement ofthe theater seat 100 or a support 300. In this case, it should beunderstood that the angle of the sheet 110 or the angle of the back 130of the seat in the theater seat 100 is not fixed, but can be controlledby the theater server 200.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating an overall configuration of asystem for controlling the theater seat 100 according to an embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the system for controlling a theater seat accordingto an embodiment of the present invention includes the theater seat 100which receives a seat driving command and moves in response to the seatdriving command and the theater server 200 which sends the seat drivingcommand to the theater seat 100 in the theater seat of a theater onwhich the screen 10 having specific curvature in the long-axis directionor short-axis direction has been installed.

In this case, as described above, the screen 10 according to the presentinvention is not essentially restricted to a plane. For example, thescreen 10 may have curvature of a specific size in the long-axisdirection or the short-axis direction. Alternatively, the screen 10 mayhave curvature of a specific size both in the long-axis and short-axisdirections and thus may be implemented as a so-called ovalness.

Meanwhile, the seat driving command commonly refers to data includinginformation necessary to drive the theater seat 100, and may include theID number of a theater seat 100 to be driven, a length to be increasedor decreased, an angle to be tilted, a driving start time, a driving endtime and so on.

The seat driving command is received from the outside. For example, theseat driving command may be received using a method through an inputdevice of a theater operator, a method through connection with arecording medium such as a USB, or a method over a network from anexternal server.

The theater seat 100 is a seat installed on a theater in which thescreen 10 having curvature is used. The theater seat 100 may becontrolled so that it provides an optimum viewing angle and a sense ofimmersion to an audience at the location of each theater seat 100 whenthe audience watches the screen 10 having curvature. The screen 10 hascurvature in the short-axis direction in addition to the long-axisdirection. Accordingly, a viewing angle secured depending on thelocation of each theater seat 100 when an audience watches the screen 10may be different depending on the left and right direction in which thetheater seat 100 has been disposed, and a viewing angle may also bedifferent depending on the up and down direction in which the theaterseat 100 has been disposed. Accordingly, the present invention has anadvantage in that an audience can watch the screen 10 having curvaturemore comfortably by controlling the theater seat 100 through the theaterserver 200.

In this case, referring to FIG. 7, the theater seat 100 may include thesheet 110, the support unit 120 supporting the bottom of the sheet 110,the back 130 of the seat joined to the sheet 110 or the support unit 120and upward extended and formed, and a seat control unit 140 whichreceives a seat driving command from the theater server 200 and controlsa movement of the sheet 110, the support unit 120 and the back 130 ofthe seat.

The sheet 110 is a portion that comes into contact with a hip portionwhen an audience is seated. The support unit 120 is formed from theground and supports the bottom of the sheet 110. The back 130 of theseat is joined to the sheet 110 or the support unit 120 and upwardextended and formed, and supports the back or head portion of anaudience. Furthermore, the theater seat 100 may further include anarmrest joined to any one of the sheet 110 and the back 130 of the seat.When the theater seat 100 is moved by control of a theater server 200,the armrest supports the body of an audience so that the audience canwatch a movie safely.

The seat control unit 140 functions to receive a driving command fromthe outside as described above or to newly generate a driving commandand to send the driving signal to the sheet 110, the support unit 120 orthe back 130 of the seat. Furthermore, the theater server 200 may adopta method for separately controlling the seat control units 140respectively included in a plurality of the theater seats 100 or amethod for dividing the area of the plurality of theater seats 100 intoareas and controlling the seat control units 140 for each area. It ispreferred that the theater server 200 assigns each unique ID to each ofthe seat control units 140 of the theater seats 100 and controls theseat control units 140. Accordingly, the seat driving command of eachtheater seat according to curvature of the screen may be previously set,and the driving command received or generated by the seat control unit140 may be transmitted to each theater seat depending on a shape or tiltof the screen. Alternatively, a plurality of the driving commandscorresponding to a single content image may have been arranged in aseries of order. Alternatively, the received or generated drivingcommand may have included a single driving command corresponding to theprogress of a content image. Meanwhile, the theater server 200 may beconnected to the seat control unit 140 over a network, and may send thedriving command over a network.

Meanwhile, the theater server 200 may include the following embodimentas a method for controlling the theater seat 100.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for illustrating the state in which the angle of thesheet 110 of the theater seat 100 is controlled by the theater server inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 8, the angle of the sheet 110 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may be changed clockwise or counterclockwise. That is,the sheet 110 of the seat control unit 140 may be turned in response toa driving command from the theater server 200 so that the angle of thesheet 110 is changed. If the length of the support 300 is changed andthus the screen 10 moves left or right or curvature of the screen 10 ischanged in the long-axis direction, the sheet 110 is turned inaccordance with a shape or tilt of the screen 10, thereby securing aviewing angle of an audience and providing a sense of immersion.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for illustrating the state in which the angle of theback 130 of the theater seat 100 is changed according to an embodimentof the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, the angle of the back 130of the seat may be changed forward or backward. If the length of thesupport 300 is changed and thus the screen 10 moves up or down orcurvature of the screen 10 is changed in the short-axis direction, theangle of the back 130 of the seat is adjusted so that the back 130 ofthe seat corresponds to a shape or tilt of the screen 10, therebysecuring a viewing angle of an audience and providing a sense ofimmersion.

Furthermore, the angle of the support unit 120 of the theater seat 100may be changed clockwise or counterclockwise. That is, the seat controlunit 140 may change the angle of the support unit 120 by turning thesupport unit 120 in response to a driving command from the theaterserver 200. If the length of the support 300 is changed and thus thescreen 10 moves left or right or curvature of the screen 10 is changedin the long-axis direction, the seat control unit 140 may turn thesupport unit 120 in accordance with a shape or tilt of the screen 10,thereby securing a viewing angle of an audience and providing a sense ofimmersion.

Furthermore, the length of the support unit 120 of the theater seat 100may be extended or reduced. That is, the seat control unit 140 mayextend or reduce the length of the support unit 120 in response to adriving command from the theater server 200. If the length of thesupport 300 is changed and thus the screen 10 moves up or down, the seatcontrol unit 140 may increase or decrease the length of the support unit120 so that the support unit 120 corresponds to a movement of the screen10, thereby securing a viewing angle of an audience and providing asense of immersion.

Furthermore, the angle of the support unit 120 of the theater seat 100may be adjusted. That is, the seat control unit 140 may adjust the angleof the support unit 120 in response to a driving command from thetheater server 200 so that the theater seat 100 is inclined left orright or forward or backward, preferably in all directions of 360degrees.

In a scene in which a user rides on a roller coaster, a spacecraftbattle scene or a car chase scene, the angle of the support unit 120 ischanged in response to a change in the length of the support 300,thereby being capable of enabling an audience to feel a screening sceneas if the audience actually experiences the scene.

In this case, the method for moving the theater seat 100 as describedabove is only an embodiment. A form in which the theater seat 100 movesin order to obtain an optimum viewing angle for the screen 10 havingcurvature is not limited to the embodiment, and may include variousforms in which the theater seat 100 can be moved.

Meanwhile, according to another embodiment of the present invention, thetheater server 200 may differently send a driving command to eachtheater seat 100. The theater seat 100 has a different angle forobtaining an optimum viewing angle for the screen 10 having curvaturedepending on its location. Accordingly, it is preferred that a drivingcommand is different at the location of each theater seat 100 so thatthe screen 10 having curvature is watched at the different location. Tothis end, the theater server 200 separately controls the seat controlunits 140 respectively included in the plurality of theater seats 100.It is preferred that the theater server 200 assigns a unique ID to eachof the seat control units 140 of the theater seats 100 and separatelycontrols the seat control units 140. Accordingly, the seat drivingcommand of each theater seat according to curvature of the screen may bepreviously set, and the driving command received or generated by theseat control unit 140 may be transmitted to each theater seat dependingon a shape or tilt of the screen. Alternatively, a plurality of thedriving commands corresponding to a single content image may have beenarranged in a series of order. Alternatively, the received or generateddriving command may have included a single driving command correspondingto the progress of a content image.

Furthermore, the theater server 200 may adopt a method for dividing theplurality of theater seats 100 into groups depending on the locations ifthe theater seats 100 and controlling the seat control units 140 throughdifferent seat driving commands for each group. In this case, theplurality of theater seats 100 may be classified into specific groups bythe setting of an administrator of the theater server 200. Theater seats100 located in the same area may have a similar viewing angle in orderto obtain a viewing angle for the screen 10 having curvature.Accordingly, there is an advantage in that a manipulation is simplebecause the same driving commands can be set and managed at once.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention,the theater further includes the support 300 which receives a supportdriving command and changes a shape or tilt of the screen 10 in responseto the support driving command. The theater server 200 sends the supportdriving command to the support 300.

The support 300 refers to a structure, basically including a verticalstand having a framework fixed to the ground and a horizontal standjoined to the vertical stand and joined to the frame or the screen 10having curvature. The vertical stand and the horizontal stand areframework materials of a structure installed to support the screen 10having curvature and the frame of the screen having curvature. It ispreferred that the vertical stand and the horizontal stand arefabricated using a solid material. Furthermore, it is preferred that thehorizontal stand is fabricated to have a different length because thehorizontal stand has a different distance from the vertical stand toeach portion of the screen 10 in view of the characteristics of thescreen 10 having curvature. The horizontal stand may be fabricated tohave a varying length in response to a support driving command from thetheater server 200 so that a shape or tilt of the screen 10 is changed.

Furthermore, the support driving command commonly refers to dataincluding information necessary to drive the support 300, and mayinclude the ID number of the horizontal stand or vertical stand of asupport 300 to be driven, a length to be increased or decreased, adriving start time, a driving end time and so on.

The support driving command is received from the outside. For example,the support driving command may be received using a method through aninput device of a theater operator, a method through connection with arecording medium such as a USB, or a method over a network from anexternal server.

Accordingly, a shape or tilt of the screen 10 is changed depending on achange in the length of the support 300 controlled by the theater server200. In response thereto, the theater server 200 controls a movement ofthe theater seat 100 in accordance with a shape or tilt of the screen 10that varies depending on a change in the length of the support, therebysecuring an optimum viewing angle for an audience.

Meanwhile, the theater server 200 may previously set the seat drivingcommands of the respective theater seats 100 according to a supportdriving command for the support 300, and may send the support drivingcommand and the seat driving commands to the support 300 and the theaterseats 100 at the same time. The location of the screen 10 may be changedleft and right and top and bottom in response to a movement of thesupport 300. Accordingly, it is necessary for the theater server 200 tosend a driving command to each of the theater seats 100 in response to amovement of the screen 10 in order to secure a viewing angle. In thiscase, the theater server 200 may previously set a command to change theangle of the sheet 110 of the theater seat 100 corresponding to aspecific location or specific curvature of the screen 10, a command toturn the support unit 120 of the theater seat 100, to increase ordecrease the length of the support unit 120 or to adjust the angle ofthe support unit 120, and a command to control the angle of the back 130of the seat of the theater seat 100, thus being capable of controllingeach of the theater seats 100 more efficiently.

For example, a seat driving command to change the angle of the sheet 110of the theater seat 100 toward the center of the screen 10 may have beenpreviously set to be transmitted at the same time when a support drivingcommand to increase curvature of the screen 10 is issued. A seat drivingcommand to change the angle of the sheet 110 of the theater seat 100 sothat the theater sheet 110 become vertical to the surface of a wall onwhich the screen 10 has been installed may have been previously set tobe transmitted at the same time when a support driving command todecrease curvature of the screen is issued. Furthermore, a seat drivingcommand to increase the angle of the back 130 of the seat of the theaterseat 100 may have been previously set to be transmitted at the same timewhen a support driving command to move the screen 10 toward the ceilingis issued. A seat driving command to reduce the angle of the back 130 ofthe seat of the theater seat 100 may have been previously set to betransmitted at the same time when a support driving command to move thescreen 10 back to the ground again is issued.

Furthermore, the theater server 200 may send a previously set drivingcommand corresponding to the playback time of content, a frame or ascene. Accordingly, the theater server 200 sets a driving command of thetheater seat 100 corresponding to a special effect of a movie, andcontrols a movement of the theater seat 100 in response to a change inthe length of the support 300, in a scene in which a user rides on aroller coaster, a spacecraft battle scene or a car chase scene, therebybeing capable of enabling an audience to feel a screening scene as ifthe audience actually experiences the scene.

As described above, those skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains will understand that the present invention may beimplemented in other detailed forms without changing the technologicalspirit or essential characteristics of the present invention.Accordingly, the aforementioned embodiments should not be construed asbeing limitative, but should be construed as being only illustrativefrom all aspects. The range of right of the present invention isdisclosed in the appended claims rather than the detailed description,and it should be understood that all modifications or variations derivedfrom the meanings and scope of the present invention and equivalentsthereof are included in the scope of the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention relates to a theater on which a screen havingcurvature has been installed and a system for controlling a theaterseat. More specifically, the theater includes a screen having specificcurvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction and theaterseats installed toward the center of the screen. The screen has a tilt.Accordingly, in a theater on which a screen having curvature in avertical axis in addition to a horizontal axis has been installed, atheater seat is disposed at a different angle depending on its location,thereby enabling an audience to secure an optimum viewing angle.

1. A theater on which a screen having curvature has been installed, comprising: a screen having specific curvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction; and a theater seat installed to face a center of the screen, wherein the screen has a tilt.
 2. The theater of claim 1, wherein the theater seat comprises: a sheet; a support unit supporting a bottom of the sheet; and a back of the seat joined to the sheet or the support unit and upward extended and formed.
 3. The theater of claim 1, wherein an angle of the sheet of the theater seat is differently installed depending on a location.
 4. The theater of claim 1, wherein an angle of the back of the seat of the theater seat is differently installed depending on a location.
 5. The theater of claim 1, wherein angles of the sheet and back of the seat of the theater seat are differently installed depending on locations.
 6. The theater of claim 1, wherein: the theater seats are divided into groups depending on locations, and angles of the sheet and back of the seat of the theater seat are differently installed depending on locations for each group.
 7. A system for controlling a theater seat in a theater on which a screen having specific curvature in a long-axis direction or short-axis direction has been installed, the system comprising: a theater seat receiving a seat driving command and moving in response to the seat driving command; and a theater server sending the seat driving command to the theater seat.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the theater seat comprises: a sheet; a support unit supporting a bottom of the sheet; a back of the seat joined to the sheet or the support unit and upward extended and formed; and a seat control unit receiving the seat driving command from the theater server and controlling a movement of the sheet, the support unit and the back of the seat.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the theater server controls an angle of the sheet.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the theater server controls an angle of the back of the seat.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein the theater server sends a different seat driving command to each theater seat.
 12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a support receiving a support driving command and changing a shape or tilt of the screen in response to the support driving command, wherein the theater server sends the support driving command to the support.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the theater server previously sets a seat driving command for each theater seat according to a support driving command for the support and simultaneously sends the support driving command and the seat driving command to the support and the theater seat.
 14. The system of claim 7, wherein the theater server sends a previously set seat driving command corresponding to a playback time of content, a frame or a scene. 